Page 17 - Excerpts from the diary

begin to come at present, can later...

A bit later. Just went to the headquarters of battalion to find out concerning letters and newspapers and got
acquainted with very and very unpleasant news about night approach of our infantry there.
Germans admitted our attacking battalion to the first line without uniform shot, and then clamped it from all
directions. 1 battalion fled, and 2 and 3 got to the enemy's environment. It was necessary to escape fight. From 60
people 27 did not return from this operation. Thus, in battalion there were 30 people, 4 persons wounded.
Our ten, obviously, too was involved in fights. I am interested to find out their destiny, but for the present it is
known who exactly returned. Only the number is known. About everything about it I was told by the battalion
clerk Sanko.
Now, when I wrote, the opponent planes of Messershmits shot down two of our planes.
Fights continue, especially on the left flank. Infernal artillery preparation, as at New Petrovka is necessary to
master and expel the brutish enemy from times chosen as it for defense of a position.
I write letters. The enemy aircraft flies. 26 pieces.
But I will continue, here bombs for the present do not explode, to write. It is necessary to answer mother with one
more letter and the reference. Wrote and sent three letters: to mother, father and Olya. B. Maillet, and one more
letter with the reference for mother, did not send yet.

12.27.1943

Long talked to Savostin on household subjects today. He interprets everything about the village, a garden,
a streamlet quiet from vanities and difficulties of life. Wife hostess, even let illiterate, ugly, but healthy,
hardworking.
I about literature all went on; he tried to distract me from love for the writing, to persuade that I am unsifted, I
have no abilities to be a writer. He even tried to write the poem, assuring that he better me will write, but, of
course, at him nothing turned out.
Long still he said that I will be an ordinary graphomaniac, no more, and therefore I will feel both need and
deprivations. And with a pencil behind an ear, with a handbag in hands I will stand in a queue for a piece of a
goose which will not be enough for me in turn. And he will have an unlimited stock of geese, pigs and other at
this time, and he will aimlessly not stand for the last pennies in a queue.
Later he went to NP. I heated the furnace and solved to spite of him, to Savostin to begin to write even more.
Ground a pencil, prepared paper as suddenly, resort:
Companion the second lieutenant, you to phone. Went. I ask who causes?
89, answer.
I listen to you.
You what was ended? answered.
So you second lieutenant?
Yes.
And shooting training was studied? Here I decided that I am wanted to be sent to shooters and my heart slightly
missed a bit, but then solved: all the same I will not die anywhere, but answered: No, did not study, only mortar.
But whether you can advise me someone?
No, it I cannot.
It is a pity, and we need shooters.
Later caused again.
Shchetinin. Do you know me? Heard me?
Yes, heard.
And so, we need the correspondent. I found out that you can be him and would like to take away you to myself in
edition. Do you agree?
Yes, but I have to be with people and study people. I agree to be your correspondent, but being here.